Vayeitzei 31:23 · EXTRA 1

EXTRA · Side-ring · Parashas Vayeitzei · Passuk 31:23

This page is an EXTRA derasha. It is not part of the main-ring PREV/NEXT chain.

The Complete Passuk

וַיִּקַּ֤ח אֶת־אֶחָיו֙ עִמּ֔וֹ וַיִּרְדֹּ֣ף אַחֲרָ֔יו דֶּ֖רֶךְ שִׁבְעַ֣ת יָמִ֑ים וַיַּדְבֵּ֥ק אֹת֖וֹ בְּהַ֥ר הַגִּלְעָֽד׃

And he took his kinsmen with him and pursued after him a seven days’ journey, and he overtook him at Mount Gilad.

Source Citation

Classical sources beyond the TT-numbered main ring: Rashi on 31:23 (citing Bereishis Rabbah).

Lemma: דרך שבעת ימים.

Core Text of Chazal / Classical Meforshim

Core Text
דֶּרֶךְ שִׁבְעַת יָמִים – כָּל מַה שֶּׁהָלַךְ יַעֲקֹב בְּשִׁבְעָה יָמִים הָלַךְ לָבָן בְּיוֹם אֶחָד.

English: “A seven days’ journey” — all that Yaakov had traveled in seven days, Lavan covered in a single day.

On the daf / in context: Rashi (from the Midrash) notes the miraculous speed of Lavan’s pursuit: the distance that had taken Yaakov a full week was traversed by Lavan in one day.

Type of Learning

Derash / classical peirush — not a formal named middah of the 13. Midrashic calculation of the relative speeds of the two parties.

What Is Learned

Lavan’s pursuit was supernaturally swift; the seven-day distance of Yaakov’s flight was closed by Lavan in a single day.